I am fully aware of the long-running controversy around the legalization of marijuana. Commonly known as cannabis, in America. It's also true that while marijuana is still banned in some places, it has been made legal for recreational use in Oregon, Colorado, Alaska, and Washington. Most adults have tried cannabis once or more in their lifetimes, according to studies, which is evidence that legalizing marijuana would be more advantageous. In a world where more harmful drugs such as tobacco and alcohol remain legal, it is then illogical to discourage cannabis despite the fact that it is safer to use compared to the other two. Both republicans and the democrats have recognized the value of cannabis, especially the medicinal value that it possesses as well as the revenue it can earn the land, however, the bigger picture of this whole thing remains a mystery that needs to be unveiled. Legalizing cannabis can bring value to America in economic and social sectors not to mention bringing in solutions to the existing economic and social as well as the foreign problems.
All the 23 states currently have comprehensively accepted marijuana as a medicinal product, and it is legalized in this sector across all these states. Though questions arise on whether the patient should smoke, eat or vaporize marijuana so as to benefit from its medicinal value, it is still recognized as a reliable medicine. The problem that exists is the fact that most physicians have never been educated on how to prescribe marijuana, and when this is resolved, it will be easy to extensively use marijuana across all patients who may require it for curing their ailments. Marijuana is known to shrink the aggressive cancerous cells as well as suppress brain tumors. Studies have also shown that prescription of marijuana on patients suffering from epilepsy reduced the number of seizures by 54%. Further studies have indicated that cannabis can effectively reduce depression as well as relieve anxiety, and hence, its legalization would go a long way to helping reduce the cases of suicide related to depression. Though more research is needed to help know how to administer marijuana to manage symptoms and treat diseases, the fact that it has been legalized in most states should not be ignored but considered in the pursuit to legalize it.
The prohibition of cannabis costs the society and the world a lot. Survey records of around 658000 marijuana related arrests in 2012 alone. The same survey shows that majority of these arrests were non-violent hence further indicating that those who use marijuana are normal people who pursue peace and not violence. Enforcing laws that govern the possession of cannabis costs America approximately $3.6 billion per year, and this money would be saved and used for other noble purposes if only cannabis was legalized. A lot of finances, efforts and time are used in enforcing marijuana possession and hence taking the law enforcement bodies away from more pressing and crucial issues that concern the security and the safety of the citizens. Prosecution of those arrested either in possession or use of marijuana has cost America trillions of dollars, and therefore, it is considered counter-productive. Considering the reduction of the crime cases in the four states where marijuana has been legalized, it should be a reliable proof of the fact that marijuana is safe and that it should be legalized.
Marijuana is less addictive compared to other substances. Such as tobacco and alcohol, presenting one more reason for its legalization. Studies have shown that usage of cannabis is safer in terms of its propensity to addiction compared to most of other drugs that are abused across the globe. Although marijuana's dependency especially in people who suffer from mental illnesses is real, comparing it to alcohol, prescribed pills, tobacco, caffeine, and not forgetting sugar, abandoning the use of cannabis is a breeze. Alcohol has some known negative effects on the body as well as the behavior of the consumer. Reliable researches have clearly stated that the intake of marijuana has significantly low impacts on the health as well as the behavior of the consumer. Studies even go further to show that it brings in health benefit and not harm to the body of the individual compared to the rest of the substances that are known to be abused by humans. Research has outlined that moderate use of cannabis does not pose any risk to otherwise healthy users but moderate use of tobacco and other substances such as alcohol appear to have significantly higher risks, especially in terms of the health of the consumer. Some people claim that the use of cannabis can be a gateway to the use of other harmful drugs but there is no solid proof of the same. Studies have indicated that while cannabis poses little or no risk to the lives and the behavior of healthy people, alcohol turns most drinkers into barroom brawlers, maniacs behind the wheel, and even domestic abusers. These proofs go a long way into proving that criminalizing marijuana and legalizing the use of alcohol and other substances is illogical.
Cannabis has never been known to be behind any known illness or adverse health condition. As compared to other substances such as alcohol and tobacco. Lung diseases are linked to the use of tobacco. Studies have emphasized that the continual usage of tobacco shortens the life of the consumer progressively, and there have been some deaths linked to its huge usage. Other conditions related to the use of tobacco include bronchitis, wheezing, and even dry coughs. This proves that when it comes to legalizing or criminalizing drugs, tobacco use should be made illegal while that of cannabis should be allowed. Alcohol, on the other hand, is linked to the most kidney and liver failures as well as mouth and gut problems. Conditions such as liver cirrhosis are directly connected to the use of alcohol, and it causes painful deaths to the consumers. Use of alcohol also has an impact on the appetite of a person, and he or she may end up not eating properly for days, which may bring in issues such as stomach ulcers and even lack of strength. Eventually, the person may die, the fact they or even their family and friends did not foresee. In the other hand, marijuana is known to create some ample appetite which would go a long way to ensure that he or she is fit to live normally and for longer and even to work as required. Studies have shown that smoking a joint of cannabis per day for a period of seven years did not show any adverse effects on the user's pulmonary functions. Experts claim that marijuana increases the heart rate, eventually changing the volume of blood that is pumped into the various parts of the body. This rise of heart rate is advantageous to all the parts of the body and to the heart itself. The more it is examined, the lesser the number of reasons behind the prohibition of the use of cannabis.
Legalization of marijuana would not lead to its increased use. And hence, the prohibition laws on the same should be dropped either way. Studies outline that legal substances can be controlled in ways that illegal ones cannot be controlled. There exists a proof that controlling the use and consumption or even possession of legal substances is easier and cheaper compared to the controlling of the illegal ones. For example, regulating and restricting the use of alcohol on the minors have been effective just because the substance is legal. Tobacco and cigarette use amongst the high schoolers is currently at its lowest level, all thanks to the tobacco taxes and the growing municipal council smoking limits. When it comes to the use and possession of cannabis, the case is different as the minors are the common victims. If it were only legalized, the issue would be easily resolved, and since it has worked in the control of alcohol and tobacco, it would be true to say that eventually there would be total control over the use of marijuana. It is the illegal market that lacks any control mechanisms on the price and the persons to whom the commodities can be sold so that it poses a threat to the health and the life of the consumers. With the legalization, the government and other bodies can easily control the sale and the pricing of the same and eventually manage to regulate the use and the possession of the same.
Weed can bring in some economic value both to the people as well as to the country. In the long run, and therefore, it should be legalized. Cannabis, if at all legalized, could be the largest cash crop in America after cotton. Studies show that cannabis industry is large and much profitable, and hence, its legalization would lead to a leap in the economy of America and that of the people of the land. According to this, the farms where cannabis would be freely planted and grown would create employment opportunities for the people and eventually reduce the rate of unemployment across the land. Taking, for example, Colorado where cannabis growth and production is legalized, the sale of marijuana as well as its related products has brought in an average of $73.5 million in just some few years. After just legalizing recreational marijuana use, the state has earned such a huge amount of money in such a short time, and this is a further reason as to why marijuana should be legalized across all America. Most of the sales of marijuana currently happen in the black market, and this ends up bringing the government little or no tax-related income, its legalization, however, would end up creating legal markets like those of cigarette and alcohol and eventually earning the government large amounts of income in terms of taxes.
